Man arrested in Guildford after a loaded assault rifle found in vehicle released on bail

A man charged with possession of an AK-47 assault rifle and who allegedly handed off another loaded weapon to a youth has been released on bail.

On Nov. 12, Surrey RCMP arrested Saleh Mohammed, 22, after reports of a domestic disturbance in Guildford came in at about 6 a.m.

By the time police arrived, the couple being reported had left.

A short time later, Mounties received a call about a single-vehicle accident at 148 Street and 80B Avenue. The driver was taken into police custody and the female, who knew the driver, was released to her family.

During a search of the vehicle, police found a loaded AK-47 assault rifle, a restricted handgun, and a large amount of a substance, believed to be cocaine and heroin.

Police subsequently learned that two youth who heard the crash and went to offer assistance were allegedly given a fully loaded firearm and asked to hide it.

The two youth took the gun home and gave it to their father, who called police.

Mohammed was arrested and charged with 15 counts related to forcible confinement, as well as weapons and drugs charges.

He appeared in Surrey Provincial Court on Wednesday (Nov. 25) and was released on $7,500 bail.

Crown prosecutors opposed his release.

Mohammed is under several conditions of house arrest, including not going near certain individuals, not being in possession of firearms or other weapons, keeping the peace and reporting to a bail supervisor.

He is allowed to leave the house for employment, medical treatment and an hour a day for exercise or shopping for necessities, according to Neil MacKenzie, spokesman for the B.C. criminal justice branch.

“I can’t really go into particulars, but I can confirm that Crown opposed Mr. Mohammed’s release in the case,” MacKenzie said.

He said Mohammed will remain under house arrest “until the matter is resolved” by the courts.

Earlier this month police described Mohammed’s arrest as significant in regards to disrupting the low-level drug trade in Surrey.

“These criminals have a careless disregard for public safety and our detachment and community will not tolerate their actions,” said Surrey RCMP Sgt. Paul Hayes.

Mounties said Friday they are confident with the case they presented to Crown counsel.

“There’s nothing we would have done differently, in hindsight,” said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann, adding there’s no need for public alarm.

“We will be monitoring (Mohammed) very closely to ensure he is abiding by his court-imposed conditions,” Schumann said.